St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-02-12
ances of the worst character. Valuable

ances of the worst character. Valuable
time is consumed in windy and useless dis
cussion, and the patience of everybody ex-
hausted. For the past two or three days
the house sessions nave been opened with
exhibitions of this character. and YESTERDAY
was no exception to the rule. The row
was kicked up over Mr. Potter's bill to pre-
vent agents and attorneys from negotiating
loans beyond the legal rates of interest.
The bill was passed on Thursday without a
dissenting vote. The point was raised yes
terday that the passage of this bill would
conflict with the general usury law and en-
able usurers to eyade the latter law. The
penalty in the Potter bill is fine not ex-
ceeding $50 nor less than S25. The sup
porters of the bill claim thatit applies only
to agents and attorneys negotiat-
ing loans, and has no application
to the man who loans the money.
The lender can be punished under the
usury law. On the other hand it was as
serted that the lender could place his money
in the hands of an agent or attorney and
afford to pay the penalty of $50 for exact
ing usurous interest where the loan was
large, and take the chances of escaping
altogether. There was long and heated
discussion. Messrs. Potter and Hendrick-
son opposed the motion to call it back and
wanted it to go to the senate. where correc-
tionS could be made if necessary. The op-
position demanded that the house retain
the bill in its possession. This was finally
agreed to. 1t was charged that the bill was
i'll the interests of the loan agents. The
speaker was authorized to appoint two
members to consult with the attorney gen.
eral and get his opinion as to whether the
pnff inf<,
law. The matter came up again at the
afternoon session. During the recess Mr..
Potter had consulted with those who had
opposed the measure and the bill had been
corrected so as to remove the objections
that had been raised.
MIR. POTTER GOT INTO HOT WATER
by attempting to have the bill placed first
on general orders. There was opposition
to this and proposition to place it lower
down in the list. This MI Potter resisted.
This drew the member from Dakota into
the controversy, and he made a fiery
speech, in which he indulged in some re-
Elections and structures of rather serious
nature. Mr.. Potter objected to such Ian
guage, as did Mr.. Hepdrickson. They con-
Sidered it a reflection on themselves and un.
warranted. The member from Dakota ex-
planned that he referred to tue lobby and
made no charge against any member. A
question of veracity between Mr.. Potter and
his old adversary arose in regard to an in
depreciation by the attorney general in re-
gard to whether the bill under consideration
conficted with the usury law. The member
from Dakota asserted that the attorney gen.
eral had given him to understand that
the bill did conflict with the pro-
visions of the usury law, and
Mr.. Potter stated that the attorney general
had not given him to understand anything
of the kind. Mr.. Potter-after the wrangle
had continued for some time-moyed for
the appointment of a committee of three by
the speaker to investigate the charge made
against him. Several speakers endeavored
at this point to pour oil on the troubled
waters, and finally the motion to appoint
the investigating committee went over on
notice of debate and the Potter bill was
made No. 1917 on general orders. The
ghost would not dowl. even after this.
Just before adjournment Mr.. Hendrickson
sent to the clerks desk and had read a
resolution requesting the speaker to appoint
committee of three to investigate the
charge made by Ignatius Donnelly that
members OF the house had been improperly
influenced in support of the bill to prevent
agents from charging illegal interest," This
aroused the member from Dakota, and he
at once moved an amendment that
a committee of nine be appointed
to examine into all runors and
charges OF improper influences on any
measure that had been introduced. The
house did not seem disposed to take up the
matter, though, and it was indefinitely
postponed by strong majority. The Da-
kota member declared, as he took his seat.
that no ID pack of lawyers could brow
beat him. Turning around he asked Mr.
HendrickSon-whos sat Immediately behind
him--if he introduced the resolution
Ibid YOU INTRODUCE THAT REsoLUToN?''
Yes. I did," responded Mr.. Hendrick-
son. ''I'll get even with you for it," said
the irate man from Dakota-and that ended
the Squabble for the time being.
During the wraDgle Speaker Merriam ap-
peared at the door and announced that the
committee of architects who were eXamin-
ing the building to determine upon its
safety had concluded that it was dangerous
for the members to remain longer in the
hall, as several Of the large timbers
in the roof were giving away and the latter
might tumble down at any moment. 1t
was deemed advisable for the house to ad-
journ and disperse. A communication
from the cOmmittee-ArchitectS Bassford,
of st. Paul, and Hodgson. cf Minneapolis,
and Building Inspector Johnson, of ST. Paul
to the same effect was read. The house
considered discretion the better part of
valor and decided to adjourn until Monday
at $50 O'Clock, to meet at Market hail.
This will enable most Of the members to go
on the excursion to st. Peter to-day to in
spect the insane asylum. The train leaves
the union depot at o'clock this morning.
The damage to the capitol is not believed
to be very extensive, but confined TO the
wing where the hall of the house is located
There is plain evidence of the splitting of
several large timbers and the sinkingsof the
roof, but it is believed this can be made
safe by putting in couple of large upright
supports. The work will probably be done
in four or five days, when the members will
move back from Market hall. 1t will not
be necessary for the senate to move out
MINNEAPOLIS MATTERS.
The Hennepfn DclegatiO Get Two